The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-18
RATIONAL EXERCISE.
Rules ana Principles for the Government OF
Those Indulgfnx In It

There is an important fact concern
ing exercise which is familiar to the
physician, but not understood as it
ought to be by the pon-professional
folk. 1t is popular error, that the
aim ofexercise is solely or mainly to
OOrk the muscles or the organ that is
put in action. This is, indeed, important
in itself for obvious reasons; but there
is another purpose in exercise, and that
is to stimulate the Faculty of recupera-
ton" IS it has been called. Whether
it is faculty in the strict sense of tho
term, as those who believe that nutri-
ton is under the control of special
system of nerves wOuA call it. does nos
matter. No one will misunderstood
the meaning of the expression as we
use it here.
Unaccustomed feats of strength,
whether of muscle or OF mind, are Eek
hausting." we say; and this is due 10
deficiency or want of vigor in this
faculty. The work has been performed.
but the recuperative nutrition does not
promptly follow. the part which has
been exceptionally exercised has SUI
fered loss which is not Immediately
made good. 1t has been equal to the
demand made upon it; but. if the
demand is soon repeated, there is not
the same ability to meet it. There is
great difference in persons in this re-
spect, as every one knows; but it is not
always a difference in absolute strength.
Of two men of equal muscular power,
one NAV be able to hold OUT in a
given exercise or kind of work much
longer than the other. The one,
for example, can perhaps walk
ten miles without exhaustion,
while the other gets completely tired
out with two miles; or the one, after
walking ten miles and then resting an
hour, can start of ant walk another
five miles or more without fatigue;
while the other can not renew the effort
for the rest of the day. In this latter
case We sometimes say that one man
has more elasticity" of strength than
the other, and the metaphor is an apt
Dne. He has suffered certain strain,
but, like highly elastic substance, re-
turns readily to the normal condition
when the strain has ceased.
Now, the difference between being
accustomed to work without feeling
it." and being ''used up" by it, and
the difference between the prompt and
the slow rallying from fstigue, is the
difference between the power of rapid
repair by nutrition. and the absence or
deficiency of that power; and the aim of
exercise is to develop or strengthen the
power. What amount OF degree of exer-
else will best accomplish this result? 1t
is common mistake TO do too much.
People suppose that the more they can
10 before ge:!ing exhausted the better,
and so they persist in the exercise until
they are thoroughly exhausted. But
exercise with view to gaining tho
power of recuperation should never be
carried so far as to exhaust the nervous
energy. No marked feeling of fatigue
should be produced. If exhaustion is
experienced, the exercise has been ex-
cessive. and defeats its purpose.
In athletic training" this principle
Is invariably recognized. The ambi-
dOus youth who is eager to exercise
overmuch, from his impatient desire to
gain strength and Guido others, is al
monished to limit himself to the pre-
else amount of exercise directed; and
this amount is gradually increased rs
he becomes able to go through it with
out extreme fatigue. And the man who
is his own trainer" should be governed
by the same principle. He should be-
gin with a moderate amount of work
continued for brief period, and be
guided in the increase of exercise by
the readiness with which he RECEIVERS
from the fatigue, and regainS the power
of comfortably renewing the effort.
The common mistake is in seeing how
much one can do before getting eX-
hausted; the aim should rather be to
see how much one can do and yet rally
from it after brief interval. And this
recuperative power must be the genuine
recovery due to rest. and plain, nutri-
tious fool, not the deiusive renewal of
vigor which follows the use of stimu-
lants. II man finds it necessary to
resort to stimulants after work or exer-
else. that very fact shows that he has
kept up the exertion too long.
If the principle We have attempted to
explain were kept in mind and followed
in practice by those who desire to gain
strength by exercise. there would bc
fewer failures than generally attend the
unintelligent endeavor in that direction.
d.